If I recall correctly, his reputation took a big hit sometime after be was named SCI PH of the year. Does anyone recall what happened?

Why do you ask? You can search here and will get some dated info. Based upon personal experience, which is now 9 years old, I would not recommend him.

Big name in Zambia at one time Larry..Don't remember much more than that..was a long time ago.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
If I recall correctly, his reputation took a big hit sometime after be was named SCI PH of the year. Does anyone recall what happened?

May be he is just following in the footsteps of many past SCI winners ha?

Personally, anyone who wins that title means to be avoided at any cost!

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
If I recall correctly, his reputation took a big hit sometime after be was named SCI PH of the year. Does anyone recall what happened?

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
Why do you ask? You can search here and will get some dated info. Based upon personal experience, which is now 9 years old, I would not recommend him.

Larry I have no idea of the problem, or perceived problem with Ronny Sparrow, but I hunted Zambia at the same time Ronny was hunting there, and I didn’t hear any thing about him to cause me concern. He was hunting the Waka Waka (SPL?) area and we hunted the upper and lower Lupande further South. This was before he was voted PH of the year at SCI.
I had occasion to talk with him and his client at some length where we were leaving on the same plane from the Mfuwe Airport in the Luangwa Valley. the client was impressed with his work, and I found him to be quite knowledgeable on game animals of the area.

I never heard anything bad about him till now in this thread, but that means nothing, in those days I didn’t even own a computer, so didn’t get all the gossip! I too would like to know what the charges were about him, and who made them.

The Sparrow family are an old family from old Rhodesia ( now Zimbabwe) where there was a joke repeated in camps that went like, “If you shake any bush in Rhodesia a Sparrow will fly out of it!”
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I may be wrong. I seem to recall some serious issue that caused him to exit the business.

It has been a long time and I am getting old . I may be wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I may be wrong. I seem to recall some serious issue that caused him to exit the business.

It has been a long time and I am getting old . I may be wrong.

Could be Larry, and I too would like to know what the problem was!

........................................................................

Wasn't it Ron Sparrow who was breeding lions and when the blacks were going to 'repatriate" his farm, he turned threatened to turn all the cats loose (and maybe did)?

Didn't his daughter get seriously mauled by a cat as well?
That was the last I heard his name.

Google:
http://www.witness.co.za/index...lobal%5B_id%5D=28878

http://www.iol.co.za/news/afri...lion-attack-1.418267

http://www.farmersweekly.co.za...-not-abandoned-owner

quote:

Originally posted by mmassey338:
Google:
http://www.witness.co.za/index...lobal%5B_id%5D=28878

http://www.iol.co.za/news/afri...lion-attack-1.418267

http://www.farmersweekly.co.za...-not-abandoned-owner

Based on the three articles above, looks like Ronny Sparrow was the victim at least in this case. This happened to a lot of land owner in Zimbabwe.

Now what I would like to know is what is the charge against him that makes folks say they wouldn't recommend him as a PH?

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
Wasn't it Ron Sparrow who was breeding lions and when the blacks were going to 'repatriate" his farm, he turned threatened to turn all the cats loose (and maybe did)?

Canned lion 'hunts' in Zim ? ... God forbid, please say it ain't true!

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
Wasn't it Ron Sparrow who was breeding lions and when the blacks were going to 'repatriate" his farm, he turned threatened to turn all the cats loose (and maybe did)?

Canned lion 'hunts' in Zim ? ... God forbid, please say it ain't true!

I didn't say that at all.. Don't put words in my mouth. I could care less about the lion bullshit here, there or Tanz..

Met Ron Sparrow once when he came to an SCI fund raiser at Tucson. A close friend had hunted with him in Zambia and had nothing but good words. I made 8 seasons in Zimbabwe and don't believe I ever heard any bad mouthing of him. But there were several ranchers raising Lions at that time. I knew of two operations quite well,one having over 50 lions. Spent some time around them. They were all for export to Zoos and I never heard of any consideration of them being hunted. This is personal contact and I have no reason to believe anyone was lying to me. All parties are still close friends.

Have you ever had something in your mind and you just can't remember the details ? It drives you nuts. That is what this is like.

Again, I may be totally wrong. I seem to recall something that led to a sudden fall from grace. For the life of me, I can't remember what it is.

Andy Connelly is another Zim outfitter who raised lions as a tourist attraction- he advertised "walks/hikes with lions". i saw some of the caged beasts at the Dollar Block near Bulawayo when i hunted plains game there 10 years ago. he did pay a stiff price for his "pets"- lost an arm to 1 of them in a mauling.

Sad deal. Daughter gets mauled by lions. He is in RSA tending to his daughter and his place gets looted and the gvt takes away from him. Sad, sad deal.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Have you ever had something in your mind and you just can't remember the details ? It drives you nuts. That is what this is like.

Again, I may be totally wrong. I seem to recall something that led to a sudden fall from grace. For the life of me, I can't remember what it is.

Larry..you wouldn't be thinking about David Van Der Mullen would you?

No, I do recall the Van Der Muelen incident.

yea, the van der Muelen incident REALLY gave SCI a black eye- not to mention being on the hook for many thousands of dollars they had to refund for donated hunts paid for at the auctions, that went tits up....

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
No, I do recall the Van Der Muelen incident.

Van der Muelen was only one of those given the SCI stamp of approval who turned sour.

There are number of those who have won the SCI Hunter Of The Year who weren't what they were supposed to be.

Imagine, only ONE a year, and SCI picks so many rotten apples.

Ron Sparrow could be the nicest guy around, and I know nothing to doubt that.

But, any winner of the SCI Hunter Of The Year awards raises a VERY BIG RED flag for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
Wasn't it Ron Sparrow who was breeding lions and when the blacks were going to 'repatriate" his farm, he turned threatened to turn all the cats loose (and maybe did)?

Canned lion 'hunts' in Zim ? ... God forbid, please say it ain't true!

I didn't say that at all.. Don't put words in my mouth. I could care less about the lion bullshit here, there or Tanz..

Don't get your knickers in a knot ... Anyone breeding lions doesn't do it for fun - if its not for the financial gain then what!? - And those who do breed these cats will sell to anyone who will pay the going price, irrespective that they end up in a cage or in a hunting block!

How many bloody Zoos are there wanting to buy lions? - Give us a break!